Rape and General Violence
Violence faced by women is found in many places, whether it be at the hands of gangs or political groups in the country they are trying to flee or on the journey to the country they are attempting to escape to. It is violence regardless and some of the following examples are meant to spark conversation about this violence.
Case of Campos-Guardado v. INS (1987)
The violence in this case is in the form of a woman being raped and forced to watch the violent murder of family. In addition the "attackers shouted political slogans at her" (Anker 427). This example is blantant violence that was both traumatizing and sexually motivated in nature with a seemingly political based angle as it was during the civil war. To add more to this account, the woman was denied asylum because the perception was that the "rape and trauma were personal in nature" (Anker 427).
So in addition to trauma, the experiences were overlooked in the larger context of law and the woman had to deal with the lack of validation in her claims.
Violence During the Journey
One account, although from a European source, is a great example of the abuse at the hands of those in power faced by women. From both this source and personal experience in the realm of other subjects such as immigration, this form of abuse is not limited to Europe and thus provides a relevant account.
The violence on the journey to places of refuge are found at the hands of police offices in detention centers and by smugglers. The following is an account of the former:
"He tried whatever he could to get me alone in a room with him. He used to approach me an whisper to me that I am very beautiful and that he would help me out, that he would personally look into my case" (Human Rights Watch).
The abuse at the hands of smugglers are of the same nature, transactional proposals and often involve rape and injury. This was the case when the individuals did not have enough to finance their journey and smugglers are their way to safety just as their fate lies at the hands of police officers.